Information Meeting Transfer Station Options September 30, 2014
Outline of Presentation Why we are looking at changes Background on current Transfer Station Options that were considered need, function and location Next steps in the process Draft recommendation Questions and Comments (please hold until the end of the presentation)
Why look at options? More efficient use of space for transfer station land is a cost to own and maintain Opportunity to assess purpose and role of the transfer station re-evaluate if and what we want out of a transfer station Free up space for industrial expansion accommodate employment growth and assessment base growth
What is the Innisfail transfer station? Facility where solid waste and recyclables are collected and then shipped to another facility Materials are brought in by residents and business community pay a fee for service based on volume Does not receive domestic garbage, recyclables and yard waste picked up at curbside by Town s contractor Nothing stays at site on a permanent basis not a landfill Town pays costs to remove to final end destination and pays by weight
Current Facility - Location
Current Facility Site Photo
Current Facility Garbage Compactor Receives domestic garbage (food wastes, etc) dropped off by residents and businesses Nearing end of useful life Bins removed as they fill
Current Facility - Recycling Bins for cardboard, glass, tin, paper, plastic Sea/land container for electronics Bins emptied as needed
Current Facility Yard Waste Burn pit used for woody yard waste Fire lit when pit is full and wind conditions are favourable Grass clippings and leaves drop off Emptied weekly taken to offsite composting facility
Current Facility - Recycling Collection of batteries and propane tanks for recycling Large appliances freon is removed and appliance is sent to metal recycling facility Metal pile sent to metal recycling facility
Current Facility Construction Debris Bins for construction debris drywall, shingles, etc Bins taken to landfill once filled
Current Facility Furniture/Dry Items Bins for furniture and dry waste items Taken to landfill once bin is filled
State of Facility Recent Past Site was kept in a less clean condition compared to today Operated at significant cost to tax payers ($300K to $400K per year) Moving towards full user pay 2014 may be first year to reach a break even Context change - County opened the Horn Hill Transfer Station Context change - Town has expanded curb side residential services to add recycling and yard waste pick up and annual large item pick up
Visits to Facility (Jan to July, 2014) Source January February March April May June July Town Resident 143 (70.7%) 118 (74.2%) 193 (72.0%) 353 (77.1%) 406 (76.9%) 309 (76.1%) 318 (78.1%) County Resident 47 (23.3%) 32 (20.1%) 56 (20.9%) 71 (15.5%) 84 (15.9%) 67 (16.5%) 58 (14.3%) Other 12 (6.0%) 9 (5.7%) 19 (7.1%) 34 (7.4%) 38 (7.2%) 30 (7.4%) 31 (7.6%) Total Visits 202 (100%) 159 (100%) 268 (100%) 458 (100%) 528 (100%) 406 (100%) 407 (100%)
Purpose of Visit (Jan to May, 2014) Purpose January February March April May Garbage 160 (60.0%) 130 (69.1%) 232 (74.8%) 374 (68.9%) 481 (67%) Recycling 97 (36.7%) 54 (28.7%) 74 (23.9%) 106 (19.5%) 129 (18%) Compost 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 29 (5.3%) 59 (8.2%) Burn Pit 7 (2.7%) 4 (2.2%) 4 (1.3%) 34 (6.3%) 49 (6.8%) Total 264 (100%) 188 (100%) 310 (100%) 543 (100%) 718 (100%)
Purpose of Visit (June to July, 2014) Purpose June July Domestic Garbage 251 (42.5%) 190 (33.5%) Furniture or Appliance 57 (9.6%) 79 (13.9%) Fridge or Freezer 4 (0.7%) 9 (1.6%) Grass or Leaves 28 (4.7%) 16 (2.8%) Tree Trimmings or Branches 80 (13.5%) 75 (13.2%) Paint or E-Waste (electronics) 17 (2.9%) 10 (1.8%) Recycling (paper, tin, glass, plastic) 66 (11.2%) 69 (12.2%) Construction Waste (drywall, lumber, etc.) 88 (14.9%) 119 (21%) Total 591 (100%) 567 (100%)
Option of Closing Transfer Station Weekly garbage pick-up of 3 bags; additional bag tags can be purchased for $1.00 Weekly residential recycling (green box) May to October residential yard waste pick-up every Monday Household hazardous waste round-up every year in the Spring Large item pick-up from residential property in May Horn Hill Waste Transfer Station (just east of the QE2 Highway on Highway 42) Red Deer County
Option of Closing Transfer Station continues to be used by residents for a variety of purposes closure may cause inconvenience - for commercial sector, loss recycling drop off could mean adding their own recycling containers to their places of business inconvenience may lead to more materials at places of business or illegal dumping in remote parts of the town full closure and elimination of the transfer station does not seem practical at this point in time
Proposed Changes to Activities Removal of the garbage compactor no more large scale collection of domestic garbage Replace with three to four 5 yard commercial bins for those who bring some domestic garbage with other materials Change from burning yard waste to mulching and shipping to an offsite composting facility
Initial Review Two Locations Focus was on feasibility of being able to fit into a smaller area and relocate Number of options limited by land ownership and vehicle access Option A is the north end of the Town Yard Option B is along 61 Avenue south of the sewage lagoon
Option A - Location
Option A - Description site occupied by significant water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer lines; designed to be mostly gravel and movable items in case lines need to be excavate fenced, gravel compound occupied by a series of bins with 5 ft high side walls and drop off areas at grade for heavier items CCTV camera for monitoring the site plus surveillance by daily traffic to Town yard one-way vehicle circulation system vehicle stacking space for incoming traffic to avoid back up out onto road
Option A - Description space for the addition of future bins for new items no garbage compactor; replaced with 2-3 5 yard bins 15 ft wide area for visual screen along north side of the facility and area to east by fence and tree planting no burn pit; replaced with brush pile area once pile builds up it would be mulched then shipped to a composting facility (estimated to occur 3-4 times per year during the work week)
Option A Conceptual Layout
Option A - Costs cost to build estimated at $579,000 if the work is fully contracted out - cost is $282,000 if Town staff does some of the work same routine operating costs - staff during hours open to the public and staff to periodically clean up costs for removal of collected materials by Waste Management also continue new operating costs involve mulching and hauling of yard waste - estimated at $40,000 per year assuming mulching takes place 3-4 times per year
Option B - Location
Option A versus Option B Option B was not selected for the following reasons: Costs to level site and address previous materials deposited on site Costs to extend 61 Avenue Proximity to the creek which limited site design layout Remoteness and lack of surveillance of illegal dumping
New Option B - Location
New Option B - Description takes into account location of regional sewage line - final placement of facilities may be adjusted to avoid construction over the line new road to reach the site is needed - use Lot U1 recently purchased by the Town to access future subdivision of the sewage lagoon area north end of road on 37 Street road is about 254m long and goes over existing drainage ditch features a controlled entrance with space for vehicle queuing on site and a one way circulation system perimeter fence and sliding gate to control access and CCTV camera for site surveillance
New Option B - Description operator shack positioned on driver s side for inbound and outbound traffic and where most of the site can be easily monitored burn pit area remains and can continue to be used - no garbage compactor lower profile (5 ft high sides) 20 yard bins around the outer edge - central area has bins and asphalt pads for large appliances and grass clippings space for future bins for collection to be added to the site
New Option B Conceptual Layout
New Option B - Costs cost to build estimated at $230,000 if the work is fully contracted out - if Town staff does some of the work the cost can be reduced to about $137,000 cost to build new road estimated at $355,000 - road will be needed for future subdivision to south - cost to buy land for road was $125,000 continue to have staff costs for hours open to public and periodic clean up the site costs for removal of materials by Waste Management would continue no new operating costs directly related to this option
Option A versus New Option B Evaluation Criteria Travel distance and accessibility for residents/users Noise impact on residences Visual impact on residences Options Option A: the location is a little closer to access for residents and properties east of the railway requiring 500m less travel distance New Option B: the location is farther away from existing residents and requires 500m more travel Option A: closer to existing residences which would experience some noise during loading and unloading of bins and mulching of yard waste New Option B: same distance as current location from existing residences for noise from loading and unloading of bins Option A: closer to residences and would require effort to screen using a combination of fencing and tree planting New Option B: far enough from residences to not require any visual screening Superior Option Option A New Option B New Option B
Option A versus New Option B Evaluation Criteria Odour impact on residences Traffic impact on residences Capital cost if all work is contracted out Options Option A: proximity to residences may require more frequent removal of collected materials to manage odour levels New Option B: distance from residences allows for less frequent removal of materials to manage odour levels Option A: more travel along 57 Avenue to reach site New Option B: split traffic between 57 Avenue and 58 Avenue Option A: onsite and offsite costs are estimated at $579,000 New Option B: onsite and offsite costs are estimated at $585,000 Superior Option New Option B New Option B Option A
Option A versus New Option B Evaluation Criteria Capital costs if some work is contracted out Options Option A: onsite and offsite costs are estimated at $282,000 New Option B: onsite and offsite costs are estimated at $492,000 Superior Option Option A Land purchase costs New operating costs Option A: no land purchase required New Option B: land for access road purchased at $125,000 Option A: average of $40,000 per year for mulching New Option B: no new operating expenses expected Option A New Option B
Option A versus New Option B Evaluation Criteria Formal approvals process Surveillance and risk of illegal dumping Options Option A: more complex process and more time needed relating to relaxation of 300m setback New Option B: no relaxation of 300m setback required Option A: offers higher degree of surveillance due to regular passing of Town staff in and out of Town yard New Option B: less opportunity for daily surveillance by Town staff due to location of access road Superior Option New Option B Option A Displacement of snow dump Option A: removes area used for snow dump New Option B: does not impact snow dump area New Option B
Option A versus New Option B Evaluation Criteria Transition during construction Amount of space made available for industrial use Options Option A: use of the current transfer station can continue while construction of the new location occurs no disruption in service New Option B: use of part of the current site would have to cease during onsite construction - disruption in service Option A: approximately 4.5 acres would be available for future industrial use New Option B: approximately 1.2 acres would be available for future industrial use Superior Option Option A Option A
Comparison of Costs land purchase and road construction costs related New Option B have potential for recovery from future sale of industrial lots new operating costs for mulching adds $200,000 over a 5 year period to Option A no new operating costs for New Option B combined capital and new operating costs associated with Option A is $482,000 assuming one third of costs of road and land assigned to transfer station, combined capital and new operating costs for New Option B is $295,400
Chronology of Review Started in December 2013 with land options available at that time Council confirmed willingness to alter functions and change location in principle in April 2014 Purchased land for road which opened up an additional option in July 2014 Further review of options complete in September 2014 Information session on September 30, 2014
Next Steps Recommendation from Committee expected to go to Council in November 2014 Budget resources considered in 2015 budget deliberations More detailed design and cost estimates prepared and reviewed Possible start to construct changes in 2015
Committee Recommendation That the Town continue to operate a transfer station That Council select the New Option B as the location of the redesigned transfer station That the large scale collection of domestic garbage at the transfer station cease and that the garbage compactor be removed from the site That the objective of operating the transfer station on a full cost recovery/full user pay basis continue